Miss Mary in Pride and Prejudice

If Mary was not looking forward to being reunited with little Mr. Austin, the words of the Lisbon pastor aroused her curiosity. After all, Georgiana was her good friend, and she had always been very concerned about her gentle, silent, dull man. The happiness of the friend who does not speak out in the heart.After Georgiana broke off the engagement, Mr. Darcy made a special trip to Manchester, intending to have a deep talk with Mr. Austin Jr. to find out why they broke up the engagement. However, Mr. Austin Jr. avoided seeing him and left Manchester soon. There was no trace of him again, so why on earth he broke off his engagement to Georgiana left a question in Mary's mind.

Now, knowing that Mr. Austen Jr. was staying in Florence, Mary considered it her duty to meet Mr. Austen Jr. and find out what had happened, for she could see very well that Georgiana had lost all social and acquaintance since her annulment. The interest of a new friend, which may well lead to a lifetime of loneliness for this sentimental friend of his own.

Out of a delicate psychology, Mary did not tell Earl Lester that she wanted to meet Mr. Austin Jr. Of course, she did not deliberately conceal it. She just specially chose the time when Earl Leicester went to Rome to work. Palace, and instructed the Lisbon priest to arrange a meeting with Mr. Austin Jr.

It was an informal meeting, and Mr. Austin Jr.'s identity was not enough to be formally invited in the Pitti Palace, so he just entered the palace as an entourage of the Lisbon priest and waited on the lawn.And Mary had to play cards with the princess. When Princess Caroline's card addiction subsided and the drowsiness came up, the princess went back to her room to rest by herself, and let everyone go at their own pace.Mary had nothing to say with those dubious men and women who surrounded Pitti Palace, so she opened a parasol and went for a walk in the woods next to the lawn, where she met little Mr. Austin who had been gone for a long time.

As soon as they met, Mary was amazed at how much little Mr. Austin's appearance had changed. He was wearing a black priest's robe without any decorations, but he didn't wear a romantic and suave style like the priest of Lisbon. On his body, he looked very ill-fitting and very downcast.He has lost a lot of weight, especially his face, as if carved by a knife, looks haggard and haggard.Even Mary could not help feeling sorry for him because of Georgiana.

Little Mr. Austin stood there with a gloomy face. When Mary walked in front of him, he didn't seem to recognize her immediately. Compared with before, Mary has indeed changed a lot. It is not only the luxury of the dress, but also the temperament The calm and self-confidence on the face and the brilliance between the eyebrows.When at last he recognized Mary, he gave a painful smile, bowed, and said, "Good day, Countess."

Mary stretched out her hand to him and shook hands with him like a familiar friend. Little Mr. Austen's rigidity did not ease. On the contrary, he quickly withdrew his hand, and then asked rigidly: "Countess, I heard you want to Want to see me, do you have any advice?"

Mary froze for a moment. This seemed different from what Pastor Lisbon said. Mr. Austin Jr. did not have the desire to confide, but it seemed that Pastor Lisbon had facilitated this meeting. Asked clearly what she wanted to know, so she said gently: "Well, Mr. Austin, as a friend of Miss Darcy, I am very surprised at your sudden dissolution of engagement. I know very well that you love Georgiana very much. , and Georgiana has a submissive personality, she doesn't seem like someone who would easily ruin the marriage contract because of those family trivial matters, so all relatives and friends who love her hope to know the truth."

Little Mr. Austin murmured: "You tell the truth? But the truth hurts more, Countess. I did love Georgiana very much, more than my own life, but when I found out that she didn't love me, I What else can I do but leave?"

Mary retorted gently: "This is not Georgiana's character. If she didn't love you, how could she agree to marry you? You know, she can be completely independent on marriage issues. I think it may be between you What misunderstanding happened?"

Little Mr. Austen looked at Mary for the first time, and said: "Maybe it's because she really loves someone else in her heart, Countess, maybe she thinks it doesn't matter who she marries except that person. I hope it's a misunderstanding. Unfortunately not."

Mary's heart throbbed for a moment, she suddenly thought of Georgiana's fascination with the Earl of Leicester, but that was a long time ago, and even Georgiana herself said that the obsession had passed.However, if you love someone, can you say that letting go is really letting go?

Mary pondered for a while, and then asked: "You are so sure that Georgiana has someone else in her heart, is there any real evidence?" Mr. Austen smiled wryly, and he suddenly had an urge to express: "Her own admission counts." Is it not true evidence? In fact, I already knew that she loved the Earl of Leicester, but I was overwhelmed by love and thought that I could make her forget the person who didn't care about her at all. I thought I really did it when she agreed to my marriage proposal..."

Little Mr. Austin turned around abruptly and walked towards the end of the lawn. Mary followed him silently. After Mr. Austin finally calmed down from the turbulent emotions, he said slowly: "But after the engagement, there are many details... ...made me wonder if maybe my perception of happiness was too shallow... Until that time, at the Pemberley garden party, I saw Georgiana pick up a hibiscus flower that fell from the earl of Leicester's clothes... ...then she tucked the flower so dearly into her prayer book..."

The shock in Mary's heart can't be concealed. She still remembers the words Georgiana said when she told her disagreement with Mr. Austin Jr. At that time, Georgiana attributed their disagreement to Mr. Austin Jr.'s unreasonable jealousy. .She pointed it out sharply: "I think maybe it's just a coincidence, maybe that flower is particularly fond of Georgiana, maybe you're thinking too much."

Little Mr. Austin laughed at himself and said, "I'd rather be overthinking myself, but she also put away the earl's cup, which is the cup you poured apple juice for the earl at the garden party. There are dozens of the same cups. One of the glasses, she won't keep that cup alone because of a special preference, right?"

Mary was speechless, she never thought that Georgiana would be so infatuated with the Earl of Leicester, and act in such an infatuated manner.Mr. Austin Jr. continued: "However, although I am in pain, I can't directly accuse her of her behavior. After all, even my fiancé can't stop my fiancée from secretly falling in love with another man in my heart... Sometimes I even fantasize that maybe it's just her young girl. An immature expression of feelings, when we get married, she will naturally forget about the Earl. But..."

Little Mr. Austen took a deep breath, and said: "On that dreadful night, the night before our wedding, I went upstairs with joy to Georgiana in her room, to consult her about the wedding bouquet. but saw her fiddling with a small box containing a dozen items, including buttons, quills, paper, ink pads...and the cup—she took as many things as she could get her. All the things Earl Te used and touched were kept as treasures, and I often took them out to appreciate and recall them. I couldn't bear it anymore, so I quarreled with her on the spot and immediately broke off the engagement."

Little Mr. Austin stopped in his tracks, and Mary also stopped. Now she was too complicated to say a word. Little Mr. Austin looked at her fixedly and said, "This is all that happened. Since that day, I feel like I am living in purgatory, but I have never regretted the dissolution of the engagement for a minute. Although I am humble, I will not accept such a marriage, so I decided to leave the UK far away, because I will love her forever, Even if she treats me like nothing, then I'd rather just think of her in my heart, it's better for both of us."

He raised his head and looked at the woods in the distance, and continued: "Mr. Lisbon has found me a missionary position in Indonesia. I will leave soon and may never come back. Please don't mention to Georgiana to see me." I wasn't going to tell anyone about her secret, but the Vicar of Lisbon thought I should let you know, and he might be right."

Mary asked, "Have you talked to Pastor Lisbon about this?"

Little Mr. Austin shook his head, and said softly: "No, I haven't mentioned it to anyone except today, including Mr. Darcy. At that time, I was too painful to face his questioning, so I I just met the priest of Lisbon, and went to London with him, and then came here again. The priest of Lisbon seems to know everything, he knows all the inside information, even better than I know, many things, he I didn't see it with my own eyes, but when he casually mentioned it, I discovered the hidden truth behind the matter... Many times, I thought he was the same person as the Earl of Leicester. Didn't the Earl also know Georgiana's infatuation? But He calmly dismissed her idea - he is actually cruel to people he doesn't care about..."

Little Mr. Austin looked at Mary, hesitating to speak, but Mary already knew what he wanted to say. With a slight smile, she shook hands with Mr. Austin again: "Please let me wish you in advance: a smooth journey!"